good, but not for true extremes

By: Ben Reff February 11, 2011

Just a couple follow-up things: You can find Alpha jackets at Zappos.com if you're interested in them. Also, I didn't mention this, but L.L. Bean also makes warm winter boots (a lot of them basically identical to the biggest name brands out there). Also, one more comment is that I've observed that people tend to hate or love winter according to their inclination to get out and actually do things. For example, my mom hates cold and winter because she isn't very physically active and as a result she basically stays cooped up in buildings all winter. I think it drives her a little stir-crazy. My dad and I, on the other hand, both love winter because it's just another opportunity to get outside and enjoy the world through skiing, snowshoeing, ice-skating, photography, etc. So my recommendation to you, above and beyond all gear concerns, is to try to let winter facilitate your activities, rather than hinder them. Go out, learn some new hobbies, gain a new appreciation for the joys of hot cocoa, etc.... I think you will be a lot happier that way, rather than if you approach winter with the attitude that it's just standing in the way of spring and summer.

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By: Ben Reff February 11, 2011

Hi Sarah, Gee... where to begin! First of all, it's true that GA to AK is a big leap in climate, but the fact of the matter is that most of cold weather living boils down to two things - being prepared, and adapting to the psychological and lifestyle changes that a cold climate demands. And both of those things are attainable, no matter where you come from. The nice thing about Alaska, though, is that most of the populated areas are on or around the coast, which has a tendency to regulate the temperature and keep it from getting too extreme. You say you're going to be a student, which I'm guessing means you'll be in Anchorage. Anchorage actually has a fairly mild climate compared to the rest of the state. And its record lows are actually warmer than the record lows for my home town in Montana! So, take heart! On to your specific questions - If you've got the money to spend, a Canada Goose parka is the best you can get. BUT there are plenty of other options out there for less money that will be totally sufficient. L.L. Bean, though it doesn't have much by way of street cred or "cool" factor, is a great place to get insanely good deals on down coats. Cabela's is probably even lower on the fashion scale, but they too produce excellent products in terms of their winter outerwear. Real surplus military parkas are difficult to find - that is to say, parkas that were actually in use by the military. There is a company called Alpha that produces military-style N-2B and N-3B replica parkas. In fact, Alpha was once the contractor responsible for making the authentic parkas, though they are now focused more on military "fashion." My dad, a retired Marine and construction worker, owns an Alpha winter parka that he wears under his Carhartt coat for extra insulation. The fake fur ruff is a little cheesy but they're definitely warm, and their price point is pretty fantastic (less than $200 MSRP). The other option would be to look around at the technical outerwear brands here on Backcountry. A hooded Mountain Hardwear Sub-Zero jacket would certainly be warm enough for you. Really, as long as you get a coat made by a reputable manufacturer, it's going to be warm as long as it has a hood and is long enough to cover your butt and the tops of your legs. Who you get it from will boil down to taste, budget, availability, and so on. Look for something that gives you maximum coverage, especially around your head and face. If you're dead set on getting Canada Goose, you're right to be aware that they have a real problem with counterfeiters. Luckily they have a list of authorized retailers who will sell you the authentic thing: http://www.canada-goose.com/where-to-buy/ As for pants, I've never found insulated pants to be much of a necessity unless you're actually doing some kind of winter sport like snowshoeing or skiing. In that case, you will want to invest in a pair of insulated snowpants (I've not encountered much by way of down-insulated pants but there are plenty of high quality synthetic insulations out there). For just walking around town and going to class, I think you would be better suited by buying a couple pair of high quality base layers. I wear a pair of Under Armour coldgear tights under my pants and I'm basically fine. Plus, if you're wearing a down coat with a bit of length to it, you'll be getting some protection that way, as well. As for boots, you'll want to find something with a pretty high insulation rating. 400g at least, or something that has a removeable wool or felt liner. I'm not a big fan of Sorel, personally, but they make a pretty large range of boots, some more fashionable than others, that are warm and waterproof. Columbia and The North Face also make fairly decent winter boots. Take a look around here at Backcountry, read up on the stats and reviews of various boots that appeal to you, and that will at least give you an idea of where to start. You could also take a look at the specific manufacuters' websites. For example, the Sorel website allows you to sort products from coldest to warmest. Another big factor on keeping your feet warm is intelligent use of socks. You may find it useful to wear two pair of socks - a thin liner to wick moisture from your foot, and a thicker wool sock to keep you warm. And if you spend a great deal of time wearing warm boots inside, remember that your foot will start to sweat and wet feet are cold feet. Depending on your circumstances, you may want to bring a lighter pair of shoes to wear inside. The problem you might find is that manufacturers basically consider winter to be over right now, and most of the best post-Christmas sales are done, so you might have a tough time with selection. But keep in mind that even if you don't find something perfect, you can still get by in cold weather by layering several lightweight sweaters, jackets, or whatever. You could get a lightweight down sweater, like Patagonia's, and wear it under a standard skiing jacket. Plus then you've got something to wear in spring and fall. I didn't even own actual winter boots until recently, and I got by pretty well just wearing ordinary hiking boots with warm socks. If all else fails, just get something from a company with a forgiving return policy like Backcountry or REI, and you can return it later if it doesn't work out for you.

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By: Sarah February 11, 2011

one more thing, i'm assuming this site is not legit because it lists men's canada goose down parkas at $220. is there a good way to tell what is a real canada goose offer and what is a copy cat? http://www.canadagoosejackets.org/canada-goose-mens-parka-c-1.html

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By: Sarah February 11, 2011

hi Ben, you sound VERY knowledgeable about cold weather gear, and i was hoping you could help me out a bit. i am moving to alaska soon, coming from ga. i have very little experience with extreme cold. i think i will do fine there provided i have the correct gear to keep me cozy warm. i was thinking the 3 high price items i am going to need to buy are a large down parka, some sort of rather warm/snowproof pants, and some super serious, waterproof, warm boots. is there any other high price/very important things that jump to mind? any other smaller things that may be of great value to me? first, the parka. you said canada goose is pretty much the best. i am prepared to spend 350ish on a child's version, but i wanted to make sure that was really the best before i shelled out all that money. i've read some army/navy surplus parkas are a good, cheaper option. do you know anything about that or have any recommendations on specific ones? i am not concerned about having a super light/packable mountaineering jacket or anything here. i mostly just want something ridiculously warm. second, would down/insulated snow pants be of value on a day to day basis to keep me extra warm? i am going to be a student walking around outside on campus a decent bit. i am going to at least try to get by with out a car as well. also i am not concerned about looking ridiculous wearing snow pants to class/dinner or anything even if no one else really does that. third, boots. i don't really know where to begin here. i will most likely need a child's size, so any recommendations on the warmest/most water proof that come in a children's version as well? again, not super concerned about these being incredibly light or anything. thanks so much for your time hopefully giving me some meaningful direction here. sarah

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